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The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 1994-08-24

The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 1994-08-24 page 1

iVtttbrafi f!0 4StltTO Serving the Sandstone Capital of the World since 1874 Wednesday, August 24, 1994 35 988-2801 Aug. 26-31 Aug. 30 Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 13 Sept. 17 Sept. 19 Sept. 20 Sept. 22 Oct. S Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 24-27 Nov. 4 Nov. 16 Nov. 17 Nov. 19 Nov. 24-25 Dec. 14 Dec. 22 Jan. 3 Jan. 16 Jan. 20 Feb. 1 Feb. 6-9 Feb. 20 Feb. 22 Feb. 23 Feb. 24 Mar. 6-9 Mar. 6-17 Mar. 24 Apr. 5 Apr. 14 Apr. 24 May 1-10 May 3 May 29 June 4 June 7 June 14 Violations to close legion post 45 days School jj year Ifi at a fJf glance cSfr Kindergarten Screening First Day for Students Labor Day No School Open House-Powers Open House-Harris Alumni Band Fest Open House-Shupe Open House-Nord Open Housc-Steele Interim Rpts.Stu. Progress In-Service-No School (NEOEA) Gallery of Success Proficeincy Testing-Gr. 9-12 First Grading Period Ends Report Card Day Early Dismissal Parent Conf.-Evening Parent Conf.-No School Thanksgiving Break Interim Rpts.Stu. Progress Winter Break School Re-opens M.L. King Day-No School 2nd Grading Period Ends First Sememster Ends Report Card Day 12th Gr. Proficiency Test President's Day-No School Interim Rpts.Stu. Progress Early Dismissal Parent Conf.-Evening Parent Conf.-No School Proficiency Testing 9-12 CTBS Testing Competency Grades 3, 5, 7, Achievement Abil. Testing Grades 4, 6, 8, Chapter 1 Testing K-2 Third Grading Period Ends Report Card Day K-6 Spring Vacation Begins School Re-opens 9th Gr. Proficiency Interim Reports Memorial Day-No School Graduation Last Day for Students Report Cards Mailed by Marsha Jaquays Members of American Legion Post 118 gambled with state law and lost the bet. On Jan. 25, 1994, law enforcement agents from the Department of Liquor Control raided the Amherst post and confiscated $6,909.55, tip tickets and gambling records. Undercover investigators staked out the legion for several weeks so they could witness a complaint they say was telephoned to the state liquor department by an area resident. An individual from the community said members from the American Legion were selling tip tickets. Tip tickets are very similar to lottery tickets. The premise is a buyer matches something via a winning sequence or number to win a prize. Most private clubs use tip tickets as a way to raise money. However, state law strictly states "any type of gambling in a liquor establishment is prohibited." Since the American Legion holds a private club permit that allows liq uor to be sold to its own members, Patty Haskins, spokesperson for the state liquor department, said gambling, even in the form of raffles, is illegal. As a result, the post was brought up on four charges of permitting andor allowing gambling. There was one charge for tip tickets, two for raffles or drawings and one more for sports pools. In most cases the three-member Ohio Liquor Control Commission issues a severe fine for any violations. However, the members from post 118 are not first-time offenders, according to Haskcns. On May 20, 1993 the American Legion was cited with the sale of tip tickets, raffles or drawings, possession of pay-off records and alcohol sales to non-members. They were ordered to pay $1,400 fine. Now the price is much steeper. Unless the members win an appeal, the doors to the American Leg ion on Middle Ridge Road will be locked for 45 days beginning at noon on Sept. 8 and ending at noon Oct. 23. But Joe and Cora Godfrey are not about to let that happen to their post They and fellow members have appealed the ruling and expect to be vindicated next month. The Godfreys admit the club is guilty of the violations; however they feel the law is outdated and unfair because the club is only trying CONTINUED on page 14 School daze: Kids back in class Tuesday by Marsha Jaquays It's that time of year again: Amherst schools will be open for business on Tuesday, Aug. 30. Last year, the story was overcrowded quarters. This year, the back-to-school news is the law of supply and demand. Increased enrollment has demanded larger facilities and the district responded by supplying more classrooms. Construction crews have been working around the clock during the summer months to complete additions to Powers Elementary and Marion L. Steele High Schools. The Ohio Department of Education had demanded more stringent testing for ninth graders in the past and this year the same mandates will apply to fourth graders. The district responded by supplying students with improved curricu-lums and updated texts to prepare them for the state tests. Parents demanded school officials be more aware of the dangers of elementary school students being dismissed at the same time as older students. They supplied Powers Elementary students with a safe zone by curbing the arrival and dismissal times at schools by five minutes. Parents and law enforcement officers demanded school officials face the reality of gangs. The district supplied a new school policy that forbids any gangs, rituals or group colors in school buildings. MLS days start earlier; seniors dine together High school students entering MLS this fall will notice several immediate changes. Besides the new wrestling room, girls locker facilities and band storage, a new ramp was added so physically challenged students can have access to the gymnasium and band room. Principal Bob Boynton said the construction was necessary if the school wanted to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In the past, students with wheelchairs were exempt from physical education and music because they couldn't get to the classrooms. Other classes could be adjusted. For example if a student's class was scheduled to be in a second floor room, Boynton arranged for the teacher to move to a downstairs classroom. "But we couldn't schedule gym somewhere else," he explained. "Some day, in the future, we may have to put an elevator in, but at this point we've never had a problem." The floor in the multi-purpose room has finally been completed. Students may remember the concrete bottom they walked on last mm m a m n. mm J imijii.i kl'iw iii..iimi'.iiMg. a , 9iHsTOwoBn . ... , iwrirrr .. m jLfMLf fc ' ' " j ' "1 . L - n ,rnHh "-" annw' anil S iSiiiff lrfh I 1 iJfc ! J. . . ...,, . .. . 30. Marion L. Steele Hiqh School yearbook advisor Lori Crowther looks ers are aettina readv for ooenina dav which is Tuesday. Aua. through a classroom at the school last week. Teachers and other staff work-year.The district began to repair the damaged floor in 1993 but ran out of money so the project was put on hold. The multi-purpose room is used for many events including lunch. Lunch has also been altered this year in the hopes of alleviating crowded tables. Students who have seven classes a day must eat lunch cither in fourth, sixth or eighth period. As a result, more than 300 kids dine together for 45 minutes. Boynton says fifth and sixth period lunch always remained small. But thanks to the tcch-prcp program, an industrial arts room emptied so seniors could have their own private lunch room. Although it cost a lot of money to revamp the room, Boynton says it was well worth the expense since the room can hold up to 90 kids at one time. Study hall will also shrink in size now that classes such as weight training and television production have been added to the curriculum. "We've added classes that will not add homework but give students something to do rather than sit in a study hall," Boynton explained. With the success of last year's Comet Connections program, team teaching has expanded into Comet Connections Two and AP classes. AP Physics and AP calculus CONTINUED on page 2 Super Notes Page 4 Elementary bus routes Page 5 Nord, Steele bus routes Page 6 Lunch menus Page 7 Fall sports preview starts .... Page 8 School daze checklist Page 14 Cops say parents must be more responsible by Kathleen Koshar If it's after 1 1 p.m., do you know where your kids are? If you think they are in bed sleeping, you might want to double check. Because if the Amherst Police Department has its way, parents may become even more responsible for youngsters who are out after curfew. When City Council members convene after their annual vacation, they will be asked to review new legislation that could but some bile in the laws concerning curfew viola tions, if adopted. Police Chief Bill Hall said the department would like to see some updated legislation that would force parents to pay for curfew violations. Presently, Hall said, parents can be forced to pay up to $3,000 for vandalism caused, by juveniles. But he would like the legislation to include a violation for parents who knowingly allow their children to violate curfew laws. The law would address curfew violations whether the kids are involved in any criminal activity or not. In Amherst, children 12 years of age or younger must be off the city streets or under adult supervision after 10 p.m. Youths aged 13-15 have until 11 p.m. and those 16 and 17 years old may be out until midnight unsupervised. Generally a patrolman who spots a youngster violating the curfew law will question the youth about why they are out; sometimes, parents arc called to pick the child up depending on the circumstances. On other occasions, Hall said the youth will be cited to juvenile court Teens can be fined or reprimanded in other ways by the juvenile judge depending on the case and the number of violations attributed to the youth and the factors involved. The problem fs repeat offenders whose parents don't care, allowing the child to go unsupervised. Hall said he is concerned not only with the escalation of juvenile crime but the violence involved in those crimes. He said the violent behavior associated with teen crime is increasing. "We have to have some controls over these kids," he said. Hall said patrolmen spend about 35 percent of their time dealing with juvenile problems in the city. Not all children who are out after curfew are going to be involved in crimes, he noted. "But you have to have the tools to correct the problems when you do have the problems," he said. New legislation might simply add a clause which makes any parent or guardian in violation of city ordi-CONTINUED on page 3

iVtttbrafi f!0 4StltTO Serving the Sandstone Capital of the World since 1874 Wednesday, August 24, 1994 35 988-2801 Aug. 26-31 Aug. 30 Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 13 Sept. 17 Sept. 19 Sept. 20 Sept. 22 Oct. S Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 24-27 Nov. 4 Nov. 16 Nov. 17 Nov. 19 Nov. 24-25 Dec. 14 Dec. 22 Jan. 3 Jan. 16 Jan. 20 Feb. 1 Feb. 6-9 Feb. 20 Feb. 22 Feb. 23 Feb. 24 Mar. 6-9 Mar. 6-17 Mar. 24 Apr. 5 Apr. 14 Apr. 24 May 1-10 May 3 May 29 June 4 June 7 June 14 Violations to close legion post 45 days School jj year Ifi at a fJf glance cSfr Kindergarten Screening First Day for Students Labor Day No School Open House-Powers Open House-Harris Alumni Band Fest Open House-Shupe Open House-Nord Open Housc-Steele Interim Rpts.Stu. Progress In-Service-No School (NEOEA) Gallery of Success Proficeincy Testing-Gr. 9-12 First Grading Period Ends Report Card Day Early Dismissal Parent Conf.-Evening Parent Conf.-No School Thanksgiving Break Interim Rpts.Stu. Progress Winter Break School Re-opens M.L. King Day-No School 2nd Grading Period Ends First Sememster Ends Report Card Day 12th Gr. Proficiency Test President's Day-No School Interim Rpts.Stu. Progress Early Dismissal Parent Conf.-Evening Parent Conf.-No School Proficiency Testing 9-12 CTBS Testing Competency Grades 3, 5, 7, Achievement Abil. Testing Grades 4, 6, 8, Chapter 1 Testing K-2 Third Grading Period Ends Report Card Day K-6 Spring Vacation Begins School Re-opens 9th Gr. Proficiency Interim Reports Memorial Day-No School Graduation Last Day for Students Report Cards Mailed by Marsha Jaquays Members of American Legion Post 118 gambled with state law and lost the bet. On Jan. 25, 1994, law enforcement agents from the Department of Liquor Control raided the Amherst post and confiscated $6,909.55, tip tickets and gambling records. Undercover investigators staked out the legion for several weeks so they could witness a complaint they say was telephoned to the state liquor department by an area resident. An individual from the community said members from the American Legion were selling tip tickets. Tip tickets are very similar to lottery tickets. The premise is a buyer matches something via a winning sequence or number to win a prize. Most private clubs use tip tickets as a way to raise money. However, state law strictly states "any type of gambling in a liquor establishment is prohibited." Since the American Legion holds a private club permit that allows liq uor to be sold to its own members, Patty Haskins, spokesperson for the state liquor department, said gambling, even in the form of raffles, is illegal. As a result, the post was brought up on four charges of permitting andor allowing gambling. There was one charge for tip tickets, two for raffles or drawings and one more for sports pools. In most cases the three-member Ohio Liquor Control Commission issues a severe fine for any violations. However, the members from post 118 are not first-time offenders, according to Haskcns. On May 20, 1993 the American Legion was cited with the sale of tip tickets, raffles or drawings, possession of pay-off records and alcohol sales to non-members. They were ordered to pay $1,400 fine. Now the price is much steeper. Unless the members win an appeal, the doors to the American Leg ion on Middle Ridge Road will be locked for 45 days beginning at noon on Sept. 8 and ending at noon Oct. 23. But Joe and Cora Godfrey are not about to let that happen to their post They and fellow members have appealed the ruling and expect to be vindicated next month. The Godfreys admit the club is guilty of the violations; however they feel the law is outdated and unfair because the club is only trying CONTINUED on page 14 School daze: Kids back in class Tuesday by Marsha Jaquays It's that time of year again: Amherst schools will be open for business on Tuesday, Aug. 30. Last year, the story was overcrowded quarters. This year, the back-to-school news is the law of supply and demand. Increased enrollment has demanded larger facilities and the district responded by supplying more classrooms. Construction crews have been working around the clock during the summer months to complete additions to Powers Elementary and Marion L. Steele High Schools. The Ohio Department of Education had demanded more stringent testing for ninth graders in the past and this year the same mandates will apply to fourth graders. The district responded by supplying students with improved curricu-lums and updated texts to prepare them for the state tests. Parents demanded school officials be more aware of the dangers of elementary school students being dismissed at the same time as older students. They supplied Powers Elementary students with a safe zone by curbing the arrival and dismissal times at schools by five minutes. Parents and law enforcement officers demanded school officials face the reality of gangs. The district supplied a new school policy that forbids any gangs, rituals or group colors in school buildings. MLS days start earlier; seniors dine together High school students entering MLS this fall will notice several immediate changes. Besides the new wrestling room, girls locker facilities and band storage, a new ramp was added so physically challenged students can have access to the gymnasium and band room. Principal Bob Boynton said the construction was necessary if the school wanted to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In the past, students with wheelchairs were exempt from physical education and music because they couldn't get to the classrooms. Other classes could be adjusted. For example if a student's class was scheduled to be in a second floor room, Boynton arranged for the teacher to move to a downstairs classroom. "But we couldn't schedule gym somewhere else," he explained. "Some day, in the future, we may have to put an elevator in, but at this point we've never had a problem." The floor in the multi-purpose room has finally been completed. Students may remember the concrete bottom they walked on last mm m a m n. mm J imijii.i kl'iw iii..iimi'.iiMg. a , 9iHsTOwoBn . ... , iwrirrr .. m jLfMLf fc ' ' " j ' "1 . L - n ,rnHh "-" annw' anil S iSiiiff lrfh I 1 iJfc ! J. . . ...,, . .. . 30. Marion L. Steele Hiqh School yearbook advisor Lori Crowther looks ers are aettina readv for ooenina dav which is Tuesday. Aua. through a classroom at the school last week. Teachers and other staff work-year.The district began to repair the damaged floor in 1993 but ran out of money so the project was put on hold. The multi-purpose room is used for many events including lunch. Lunch has also been altered this year in the hopes of alleviating crowded tables. Students who have seven classes a day must eat lunch cither in fourth, sixth or eighth period. As a result, more than 300 kids dine together for 45 minutes. Boynton says fifth and sixth period lunch always remained small. But thanks to the tcch-prcp program, an industrial arts room emptied so seniors could have their own private lunch room. Although it cost a lot of money to revamp the room, Boynton says it was well worth the expense since the room can hold up to 90 kids at one time. Study hall will also shrink in size now that classes such as weight training and television production have been added to the curriculum. "We've added classes that will not add homework but give students something to do rather than sit in a study hall," Boynton explained. With the success of last year's Comet Connections program, team teaching has expanded into Comet Connections Two and AP classes. AP Physics and AP calculus CONTINUED on page 2 Super Notes Page 4 Elementary bus routes Page 5 Nord, Steele bus routes Page 6 Lunch menus Page 7 Fall sports preview starts .... Page 8 School daze checklist Page 14 Cops say parents must be more responsible by Kathleen Koshar If it's after 1 1 p.m., do you know where your kids are? If you think they are in bed sleeping, you might want to double check. Because if the Amherst Police Department has its way, parents may become even more responsible for youngsters who are out after curfew. When City Council members convene after their annual vacation, they will be asked to review new legislation that could but some bile in the laws concerning curfew viola tions, if adopted. Police Chief Bill Hall said the department would like to see some updated legislation that would force parents to pay for curfew violations. Presently, Hall said, parents can be forced to pay up to $3,000 for vandalism caused, by juveniles. But he would like the legislation to include a violation for parents who knowingly allow their children to violate curfew laws. The law would address curfew violations whether the kids are involved in any criminal activity or not. In Amherst, children 12 years of age or younger must be off the city streets or under adult supervision after 10 p.m. Youths aged 13-15 have until 11 p.m. and those 16 and 17 years old may be out until midnight unsupervised. Generally a patrolman who spots a youngster violating the curfew law will question the youth about why they are out; sometimes, parents arc called to pick the child up depending on the circumstances. On other occasions, Hall said the youth will be cited to juvenile court Teens can be fined or reprimanded in other ways by the juvenile judge depending on the case and the number of violations attributed to the youth and the factors involved. The problem fs repeat offenders whose parents don't care, allowing the child to go unsupervised. Hall said he is concerned not only with the escalation of juvenile crime but the violence involved in those crimes. He said the violent behavior associated with teen crime is increasing. "We have to have some controls over these kids," he said. Hall said patrolmen spend about 35 percent of their time dealing with juvenile problems in the city. Not all children who are out after curfew are going to be involved in crimes, he noted. "But you have to have the tools to correct the problems when you do have the problems," he said. New legislation might simply add a clause which makes any parent or guardian in violation of city ordi-CONTINUED on page 3